overtly_demure writes: The folks over at Boing Boing have released part 3
of their video series on TCHO Chocolate, a small start-up that is applying post-modern techniques to the making of chocolate. Here are
part 1 and
part 2, which you should presumably watch first. In
part 2 "Space Shuttle tape" is used in the DIYing of one of their many chocolate processing devices.
From the article: 'Today we dive in to the genetics of chocolate plants, and the hedonics — the tasting experience — of the finished product, where science meets sensuality meets sugar. Oh hell, who are we kidding, you guys? We sat around and GOT HIGH on neuroactive cocoa alkaloids. We freebased theobromine and we LIKED IT. We liked it a LOT.Warning: this episode is NSFC (not safe for chocoholics).'

overtly_demure writes: As the battle rages on/. and elsewhere over what "The Global War on Terror" is about, an often forgotten technique is to follow the money. The current issue of Portfolio magazine has a nice little piece entitled The Pentagon's $1 Trillion Problem. From the article: "Defense Department records were in such disarray and were so lacking in documentation that any attempt would be futile. In 2000, the inspector general told Congress that his auditors stopped counting after finding $2.3 trillion in unsupported entries made to force financial data to agree." That's a lot of money to follow around...